MOTOR TRADE ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18885, 6 December 1924, Page 12 (Supplement)

MOTOR TRADE ITEMS.

General Motors officials are authority for the statement that the time is not far distant when the term " automobile " will . mean a motor-car with an enclosed body. '. The percentage of closed cars of C eueral ' Motors make has increased from 28 per | cent, in 1922 to 40 per cent, of th* out- ,' put during the- current year. Two months of checking over 250,000 suggested slogans for the new Star models, resulted in the same slogan, " Tomorrow's Car To-day," being si < nested by two contestants, who complied with all rules of the contest. Both of tho v, irmers were awarded Star cars, completely equipped with four-wheel brakes and balloon tyre 3 of the latest touring model. As an example of endurance and strength of construction, a story is being told of a Studebaker Big Si:: that had been under water, in the Colorado River, for fifty-eight days, and then was salvaged. All that was dene to the car was to let it dry out and then it was driven away and apparently is in perfect running order despite the long undor-water period, i tho story goes. Several months ago it J was stolen. The thieves drove it over a i 60ft. embankment into tho _ Colorado ' River. And there tho car remained until lit was derricked out. Aside from being wet, tho motor was in perfect shape. ; Even the injuries to tho body were slight. Even the tyres remained inflated and kopt I their original pressure. . I One of the latest models of " Star" I Trucks, the 20-25cwt., has just been ! landed by Messrs. Winstone, Ltd. This i truck has attracted a great deal of atten- ' tion. On the trial trip tho truck was loaded with li tons of cement. This load was waltzed away ' with, and the gears were not changed during the trip, top gear being used the whole way. The benzine consumption on tho test with the H-ton load wa3 16 8-10 th miles to the gallon. The test made with the empty truck was 21 miles to the gallon. Considering the engine was new, these figures would probably be improved upon after the engine had been running for a few weeks. The above record was carried out under the supervision of a justice of the peace and a member of the Public Works Department.

There are many points in favour of the fonr-cylin/(?.r car. In the rase of a good four, 'fitted with a five-bearing crankshaft, all vibration is eliminated, and smoothness of running is equal and superior to many sixes, while economy, a very large factor, is maintained. In the United States, it is noticeable that many firms who are braiders of both four and six-cylinder cars have dropped the fours and replaced them by light liizes. Still, in spite of thin, the four is in great demand, and these companies which survive in the building of fours are ones who have been exclusive builders "in-this line throughout. One of the largest builders of quality four-cylinder cars in the United States is the Gardner Motor Co., and anyone visiting America to-day cannot but notice the run this car has in that country.